"Taken"

... action movie with Liam Neeson as a retired government agent and devoted father.  Liam gives up a career as a "preventer" of bad things in order to be close to his daughter.  Unfortunately, he must use his special skills and come out of retirement to rescue his daughter when she is kidnapped in Paris.

 

Slow beginning that picks up in action once the kidnapping happens.  Ending was expected with the bad guys losing and good guys winning.  Not a bad but would not rate it as a first date movie given the choice of movies currently showing in theaters.-JM

"Bangkok Dangerous"

Movie with Nicholas Cage as a hardened hitman ready to retire.  A lot of action but tends to fizzle out at the end.  Suggest holding off for a rainy day to watch.  Has a "B" movie feel, suggest skipping it as a first date movie.  Don't want to give the impression that "B" movies are your thing.-JM

"The Express - The Ernie Davis Story"

Movie about Syracuse University running back Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.  Rob Brown plays Ernie Davis and Dennis Quaid plays his coach.  Inspiring story!  Safe first date movie.  Check it out when you can.-JM

"Charlie Bartlett"

Movie with Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis, and Robert Downey Jr.  Anton plays wealthy teenager Charlie Bartlett who has been expelled from private schools and, as a last resort, is sent to public school.  Robert Downey Jr plays Principal Gardner of the public school.  Hope Davis is Charlie's mother.

 

Somehow Charlie's honesty and well meaning intentions set him as the school "psychiatrist" providing advice to students.  Dark comedy of teenage angst but with a different angle.  Did not expect much but enjoyed the movie.  Safe first date movie.-JM

"Swing Vote"

Kevin Costner plays a simple working man named Bud Johnson. Bud leads a quiet life in Texico, New Mexico until he becomes the deciding vote in the Presidential Race.

Both candidates work to get Bud's vote, even to the point of changing party platforms.

Funny moments with a message that each vote matters. Kinda drags at times.

Don't make a special trip to rent it. But, still consider it a safe first date movie.-JM

"Max Payne"

Mark Wahlberg plays video game character Max Payne, a NYPD Detective, bent on solving the murder of his wife and child.

Promising story but could not get past the demons and dark fantasy theme. Slow to watch, would not recommend as a first date movie.-JM

"My Best Friend's Girl"

Comedy with Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, and Jason Biggs. Dane and Jason are best friends. Jason and Kate are dating. Jason thinks its serious. Kate does not.

Jason asks Dane to go on a date with Kate, be a jerk, and maybe Kate will realize Jason is a suitable boyfriend.

Dane goes out with Kate but the plan backfires. Kate and Dane get physical!

Not a first date movie. Starts slow but picks up after the first 20 minutes. Save it for a later date or an already established relationship. -JM

"Righteous Kill"

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are two NYPD Detectives who have been partners for 30 years. They team up with rival detectives, played by Donnie Wahlberg and John Leguizamo, to solve a string of murders.

A vigilante is on the loose. His modus operandi - single out criminals, kill them, and then leave a hand-written poem on the scene.

Action comes and goes but overall it is slow. Good rental but not enough to rate it as a first-date movie.-JM

"Ghost Town"

... movie with Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni, and Greg Kinnear in a comedy about a lonely dentist who dies for 7", returns from the dead with the ability to see ghosts, and is constantly annoyed by them.

Ricky plays the dentist; Tea and Greg are a maried couple. Greg dies unexpectedly leaving Tea a grieving widow. Greg becomes a ghost with unfinished business and uses Ricky to contact Tea.

Despite the familiar storyline, movie does a good job of entertaining viewers. A first date movie that is cleverly played out. Check it out some time!-JM

"Death Race"

... Action movie with Jason Statham as a convict fighting for his freedom. Framed for murdering his wife, Jason is sent to a maximum security prison that uses death sentences and a racing game to create a spectator sport that dispenses justice at a profit.

With the usual stroyline - a hero marked for death fights a corrupt warden and her henchmen to gain freedom, the movie's outcome is a given. Would not rate it as a first date movie but consider is a decent rental because of the racing action and fight scenes. -JM

"Burn After Reading"

Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, and George Clooney come together in a comedy with twists and turns to leave you dizzy. Directed by the Coen brothers, who brought you "No Country for Old Men", it is an entertaining movie that keeps you chuckling.

Storyline takes viewers through a series of events that bring each of the characters together. All tied together by an attempt by Brad and Frances to blackmail a CIA Agent played by John Malkovich.

Not a bad movie, safe for a first date. Expected more but still felt okay for watching it in the end.-JM

"Stop-Loss"

Movie with Ryan Phillippe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Channing Tatum as returning veterans from the Iraq war. Ryan is a decorated hero finishing is tour of duty with the Army. Joseph and Channing are members of his squad. Ready to resume the life he left behind, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq for another tour. Unwilling to return, he makes plans to desert.

Interesting story that tests the bonds of family, friendship, and honor. Not a bad one to rent but would not consider it a first date movie. Better to wait till later in the relationship.-JM

"Yes Man"

Comedy with Jim Carey as a man drowning in self pity. He has a boring job, is divorced, and is ready to say no to every opportunity. Until an old aquaintance convinces him to attend a self-help seminar. He leaves the seminar a new person. He must say yes to everything.

Did not expect the movie to be so entertaining. A definite first date movie. Especially enjoyed Zooey Dechsael as the carefree girlfriend. Check it out when you get a chance.-JM

"House Bunny"

... comedy with Anna Faris as a Playboy Bunny who is let go from the mansion. Seeking a job and new place to live, Anna finds employment as a House Mother for a sorority whose members are somewhat homely. Hired by the sorority to improve their popularity and save their house from sale, Anna uses her experience as a Bunny to get things shaking.

Funny moments but not enough to save this one. Skip this one especially for a first-date!-JM

"Step Brothers"

Will Ferrel and John C. Reilly are 40 year old live-at-home "boys" who become step brothers late in life. Forced to live in the same home as their newly-wed parents, Will and John must go through growing pains to build a relationship as brothers.

Watch the language and the sexual overtones. Not a first-date movie. Had its funny moments but not the same chemistry that the "Will-John C" duo delivered in The Story of Ricky Bobby.

"Hancock"

Action movie with Will Smith, Justin Bateman, and Charlize Theron. Will plays super-hero Hancock, a homeless bum with super powers. Justin is a not to successful Public Relations Representative. Charlize is Justin's wife.

The three meet after Will saves Justin from certain death by a train. Will is a super-hero with a bad reputation; he tends to cause a lot of damage when saving the day. Justin invites Will to dinner to discuss plans to build a more positive image.

Safe first-date movie given the PG-13 rating but story was lacking something. Save it for a rainy day and skip it over other options.-JM

"Transporter 3"

... Another in the Transporter franchise with Jason Statham. Better than Transporter 2 and on the same lines as Transporter 1. Our hero must battle bad guys, save a woman, and deliver as promised a pacakage.

A lot of action, fast driving, and great fighting moves. All with a plot to keep your attention. Check it out when you get a chance. -JM

"Four Christmases"

... comedy with Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, and others. Vince and Reese are a couple who choose not to marry. Instead, they live together knowing they love one another. No need to tie the knot to formalize their relationship.

They are content in their arrangement having come from divorced parents and strained family ties. That is, until their vacation plans go wrong and they must spend Christmas visiting their parents.

Funny movie with a lot of moments to keep you laughing. Short in length, running less than 90". Still a decent one to see in theaters.-JM

War Games - The Dead Code

... A sequel to the original War Games that pits two super computers against each other.

JOSHUA plays a deadly game with his modern day counterpart named RIPLEY after two college kids hack into a virtual online game to win money.

A chain of events escalate into a crisis that must be stopped or else....

Not as good as the original. Save for a rainy day when nothing else is available. -JM

Rambo

... another movie from the Sylvester Stalone franchise that brought us John Rambo.

A B-movie definitely with a plot that is wanting. Still you have to root for Rambo as he overcomes his inner turmoil and proceeds to wipe out a battalion of bad guys!

Don't watch as a first-date movie and not a first rate rental. Regardless, had to watch it to cheer for our Hero!-JM